Optimise Your Oral Health With These Steps

Whilst your dentist is able to make sure your gums and teeth are healthy and help you achieve your perfect smile with a variety of treatments, including cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and dental hygiene, your dentist can only do so much.

When you leave the dental clinic, you will have your own responsibility to make sure your teeth are clean and your oral health is the best it can be, using simple measures to effectively optimise your oral health. With your mouth being the entry point to a range of different bacteria, you have an important part to play in maintaining your oral health.

In this useful guide, we explain how to take care of your teeth in between dental visits and how to maintain your oral health with just a few simple steps.

Brush Twice a Day

We recommend brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, for two minutes each time. We have seen many debates over the years of whether you should brush your teeth before or after eating breakfast, however, many are surprised to hear that you should brush your teeth before having breakfast. This is to wash the bacteria out of your mouth and to rid the teeth of plaque while coating your enamel with a protective barrier against acid in your food.

For those of us who prefer to brush after eating, you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth to prevent any damage to your enamel. The acid in your food can be very damaging to your enamel and gums, so it’s best to wait after eating breakfast.

Floss Once a Day

Unfortunately, not many people remember to floss between their teeth on a regular basis, when it should be just as important as brushing. Flossing can help remove food build-up between the teeth, remove plaque, reduce the risk of gum disease and gingivitis and also support in the prevention of tooth decay.

Flossing removed food debris from between the teeth, which is unlikely to be removed with normal brushing. It removes the plaque that forms along the gum line, which is why it’s best to floss before brushing your teeth to prevent brushing this plaque around your mouth.

Avoid Sugary Foods

Whether it’s sweets, chocolate, alcohol, fruit juice, ice cream or even dried fruit, you would be surprised how many supermarket products contain dangerous levels of sugar. Sugar is the common cause of many dental problems, including tooth decay, cavities and toothache.

When shopping for food, it can really help to read your food labels. Some products are unlikely to have the term ‘sugar’ listed in the ingredients, but still contain very high levels of sugar. Hidden sugars typically end in ‘ose’, for example, glucose, maltose, sucrose, dextrose, lactose, etc. If these hidden sugars are listed at the beginning of the ingredients list, then it’s very likely the food product contains very high amounts of sugar.

Avoid Tobacco

Cigarettes are not only dangerous to your overall health but they are also dangerous to your oral health too. Smoking can cause bad breath, can infect your gums, stain your teeth and in some cases, even cause missing teeth. In more extreme cases, smoking can also cause cancer of the lip, tongue or mouth, with heart disease showing relations to tobacco consumption.

Depending on the severity of your stained teeth, you may require professional teeth whitening in Essex to remove nicotine stains. Even if you have smoked for many years, quitting smoking can significantly improve your oral health, reducing the likelihood of developing gum disease and tooth loss.

Know The Oral Health Signs

While doing everything you can to optimise your oral health is important, you should also be aware of the signs that may indicate something is wrong. With around 90% of patients developing gum disease at some point in their lives, it’s important to regularly maintain awareness or the symptoms.

Some of the common symptoms of bad oral health can include red gums, sensitive gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, loose teeth, sensitive teeth or a change in the appearance of your gums or teeth.

Visit Your Dentist

The best way to take care of your oral health is to regularly visit your Essex dentist. Every time you visit your dentist, you’ll be able to have a checkup, cleaning with a dental hygienist, as well as receive a thorough check for any signs of oral diseases.

Having your teeth and gums regularly checked will mean that any signs of oral diseases can be checked before they become a bigger problem. From there, your dentist will be able to provide appropriate treatment, advise you on what to do next and provide you with a treatment plan.